Photographed in Antarctica, 2020
This is a Weddell seal. One of the cutest animals I’ve ever seen. They live further south than any other mammal on Earth, choosing to stay put in the brutal cold while others migrate to escape it.
What’s wild is how content they look, even in a place most of us could barely survive. They can hold their breath for over an hour and dive deep under the sea ice, navigating in total darkness. They even keep their own breathing holes open by gnawing at the ice with their teeth. Imagine being that committed to your space that you carve out your own air supply.
They don’t make much noise on land, but underwater? They sing. Really. Their calls sound like futuristic synth music and we’re still learning what it all means. Some scientists think it’s how they communicate or attract mates.
